What effect will citywide wifi have on cell companies? I could just use skype on any wifi capable handheld device right?

That's what Google would like. Their goal is for you to have a device in your hand at all times connected to the internet. Their profit doesn't come from connecting you, but instead from having you connected.

St. George, Kansas will soon have a communications infrastructure that will be the envy of people in the largest metro areas. Wamego Telecommunications Co., Inc. (WTC) has announced plans to build fiber technology to the city of St. George and the surrounding area, resulting in St. George having one of the world’s few 100% Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) communication systems. In addition to Wamego and St. Marys, the St. George area will be among the privileged 10% of the nation to enjoy the amazing benefits of FTTP – state-of-the-art digital television service, high-speed Internet and phone service over a fiber network with virtually limitless capacity. WTC will begin construction in the spring of 2013 and will complete construction by the fall.

Because the bandwidth capabilities of FTTP are unlimited, WTC will be able to offer Internet speeds up to 15MB and will be able to provide over 100MB to each doorstep. FTTP will also bring new options for television service. “We will be able to offer St. George residents the best possible entertainment experience through advanced digital television services including Hi-Def, instant movie rentals through Video on Demand, Hi-Def Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and more,” stated Jeff Wick, WTC’s General Manager. “Our decision to bring FTTP to the St. George community and surrounding area is part of our overall plan to replace our current infrastructure with technology that will meet the needs of our customers, both now and in the future.”

According to Wick, the initial construction phase will include the free installation of a Network Interface Device (NID), and fiber connection to that NID, on the outside of all homes and businesses. The NID will allow WTC to connect its fiber system to the telephone, Internet and television jacks inside a home or business.